US20050109582A1 - Apparatus and methods for conveying objects - Google Patents
Apparatus and methods for conveying objects Download PDFInfo
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- US20050109582A1 US20050109582A1 US10/719,805 US71980503A US2005109582A1 US 20050109582 A1 US20050109582 A1 US 20050109582A1 US 71980503 A US71980503 A US 71980503A US 2005109582 A1 US2005109582 A1 US 2005109582A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- rollers
- roller
- conveyor belt
- conveyor
- mat
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
- B65G17/30—Details; Auxiliary devices
- B65G17/38—Chains or like traction elements; Connections between traction elements and load-carriers
- B65G17/40—Chains acting as load-carriers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
- B65G17/06—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
- B65G17/08—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms the surface being formed by the traction element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
- B65G17/24—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising a series of rollers which are moved, e.g. over a supporting surface, by the traction element to effect conveyance of loads or load-carriers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
- B65G47/34—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
- B65G2201/02—Articles
Definitions
- the invention generally relates to power-driven conveyors.
- Switch conveyors have been developed that include a modular conveyor belt that includes rows of rollers.
- the rollers are disposed in the modular conveyor belt and are angled relative to the direction of travel of the belt such that they can laterally divert objects placed on the belt.
- the conveyor includes fixed longitudinal wear strips that are located below the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt travels, the rollers travel along the longitudinal wear strips causing the rollers to rotate for the purpose of diverting objects.
- a conveyor comprises a modular conveyor belt that includes a plurality of mat-top chains having a plurality of cavities and a plurality of first rollers disposed in the cavities of the mat-top chains.
- the conveyor further includes at least one second roller that operatively couples to the first rollers such that the first rollers rotate as the conveyor belt travels along the second roller.
- a method comprises driving a modular conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel; rotating a plurality of first rollers disposed into the modular conveyor belt in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced; and conveying objects on the modular conveyor belt using the rotating first rollers.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a section of a conveyor that includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of first rollers that are operatively coupled to a second roller.
- FIG. 2 is a detail view of a section of the conveyor of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a method for conveying objects.
- FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a first roller.
- FIG. 6B is a side view of the roller of FIG. 6A .
- the conveyor includes first rollers disposed in the conveyor belt and at least one second roller located underneath the conveyor belt that can rotate in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt travels along the second roller, the second roller operatively couples with the first rollers causing the first rollers and the second roller to rotate. Because of the rotation of the second roller, the first rollers rotate with reduced slippage.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a section of a conveyor 100 in which a plurality of first rollers 104 are disposed in a conveyor belt 102 .
- the conveyor belt 102 is modular and includes at least one mat-top chain 110 .
- the mat-top chain 110 has a plurality of cavities 114 , in which the first rollers 104 are disposed.
- the first rollers comprise plastic wheels that include outer rubber layers or tires (see discussion of FIGS. 6A and 6B ).
- the first rollers 104 are aligned at an angle ⁇ (shown in FIG. 3 ) relative to the direction of the travel of the conveyor belt 102 so as to laterally divert objects conveyed by the conveyor belt.
- ⁇ may range from approximately 20 to 70 degrees.
- the mat-top chain 110 of FIG. 1 includes hinge elements 112 that can be used to link other mat-top chains 110 to form a continuous conveyor belt 102 .
- the conveyor 100 further includes a plurality of second rollers 106 and support members 108 .
- the second rollers 106 are located underneath the conveyor belt 102 between the support members 108 and are free to rotate in a direction that is transverse, e.g., substantially perpendicular, to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt indicated by arrow A.
- the second rollers 106 comprise elongated metal rollers that include eurethane outer sleeves. Because the second rollers 106 rotate in a direction that is transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt 102 , the second rollers 106 may be designated as transverse rollers.
- the second rollers can be positioned to engage the first rollers 104 .
- Such engagement causes the first rollers 104 and the second rollers 106 to rotate. That rotation is facilitated by the high coefficient of friction that exists between the rubber layers of the first rollers 104 and the eurethane sleeves of the second rollers 106 .
- the first rollers 104 rotate along the second rollers 106 , the first rollers pass over from first ends 118 to second ends 120 of the second rollers to trace a helical path 308 (shown in FIG. 3 ) on the second rollers.
- the first rollers 104 rotate when they engage the first rollers 104 as opposed to being fixed as prior art wear strips, the first rollers rotate with reduced slippage. In fact, after an initial start up period, the first rollers 104 rotate along the second rollers 106 with nearly no slipping. This, in turn, enables more effective diverting of the objects carried by the conveyor belt 102 . For example, objects can be diverted more quickly, in a shorter amount of space (i.e., length of conveyor), or both.
- the second rollers 106 are vertically displaceable so as to be capable of being moved toward or away from the mat-top chain 110 to engage or disengage the first rollers 104 .
- the vertical movement of the second rollers 106 can be facilitated by various components such as an air actuator, hydraulic actuator, ball screw actuator, or solenoid actuator.
- the second rollers 106 are not displaceable such that they continuously engage the first rollers as the conveyor belt 102 travels in direction A.
- the second rollers 106 are horizontally displaceable so as to be brought into an out of contact with first rollers 104 .
- Such an arrangement may be particularly advantageous in situations in which the conveyor belt is provided with transverse rows of first rollers 102 that alternatingly face different directions (e.g., a leftward direction, rightward direction, the leftward direction, and so forth across the row)). Horizontal displacement of the second rollers 106 in such a case may enable switching between diversion of objects in two separate (e.g., opposite) directions (e.g., from a leftward direction to a rightward direction and vice versa).
- FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a section of the conveyor of FIG. 1 .
- the mat-top chain 110 includes hinge elements 112 that have multiple interleaved hinge elements 206 , each of which has a hole 208 that is axially aligned with the hole 208 of an adjacent element 206 .
- the axially-aligned holes 208 of the chains 110 are aligned and a rod (not shown) is placed through the axially-aligned holes 208 .
- a plurality of mat-top chains 110 may therefore be linked together to form a continuous conveyor belt 102 .
- the mat-top chain 110 further includes cavities 114 in which the first rollers 104 are disposed and in which the first rollers can rotate.
- the second rollers 106 can be made to engage the first rollers 104 causing the first rollers to rotate in direction B.
- the objects on the conveyor belt 102 can therefore be conveyed in a direction C.
- the second rollers rotate in direction D.
- FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor of FIG. 1 .
- the first rollers 104 are arranged along the axes 302 .
- the mat-top chain 110 includes first roller axles 306 that are aligned on the rotational axes 304 .
- the first roller axles 306 are coupled with the mat-top chain 110 and disposed within the cavities 114 .
- the first roller axles 306 extend through openings of the first rollers 104 to enable the first rollers 104 to rotate about their axes 302 when engaged with the second rollers 106 .
- the alignment of the first rollers 104 enables the first rollers 104 from below to convey objects on the conveyor belt 102 at an angle ⁇ relative to the direction of travel A.
- the second rollers 106 are located underneath the conveyor belt 102 such that the second rollers 106 can engage the first rollers 104 from below as the belt travels in direction A along the second rollers 106 .
- FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor of FIG. 1 .
- the mat-top chain 110 has a height dimension 402 that is smaller than the height dimension 404 of the first rollers 104 .
- the first rollers rotate in direction B and the second rollers 106 rotate in an opposing direction D (counterclockwise in the orientation shown in FIG. 4 ).
- FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a method 500 for conveying objects on a conveyor belt. Beginning with block 502 of FIG. 5 , the method 500 includes driving a conveyor belt in first direction.
- first rollers within the conveyor belt are rotated in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced. For example, as the conveyor belt travels in direction A, the first rollers engage second rollers that are likewise free to rotate.
- the objects on the conveyor belt 102 are diverted in a second direction using the first rollers.
- the objects can be displaced towards either the sides or the middle of the conveyor belt.
- FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example embodiment for the first rollers described above.
- a roller 600 comprises an inner wheel 602 surrounded by an outer tire 604 .
- the inner wheel is constructed of a lightweight, rigid material, such as a plastic or metal, and the outer tire 604 is made of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction, such as a rubber.
- the outer-tire 604 is provided around an outer surface 608 of the inner wheel 602 ( FIG. 6B ).
- the inner wheel 602 also comprises an opening 606 through which a roller axle may pass to rotatably mount the roller 600 in a conveyor belt (e.g., belt 102 ). Due to the outer tire 606 , improved gripping of a surface, such as that of the second rollers, can be achieved thereby reducing slippage.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention generally relates to power-driven conveyors.
- Switch conveyors have been developed that include a modular conveyor belt that includes rows of rollers. The rollers are disposed in the modular conveyor belt and are angled relative to the direction of travel of the belt such that they can laterally divert objects placed on the belt. The conveyor includes fixed longitudinal wear strips that are located below the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt travels, the rollers travel along the longitudinal wear strips causing the rollers to rotate for the purpose of diverting objects.
- The use of the wear strips to rotate the rollers causes the rollers to slip in that the rollers intermittently slide along the wear strips. Such slippage is undesirable in that it results in inconsistent or inefficient diverting of the objects.
- Disclosed are conveyors and methods for conveying objects. In one embodiment, a conveyor comprises a modular conveyor belt that includes a plurality of mat-top chains having a plurality of cavities and a plurality of first rollers disposed in the cavities of the mat-top chains. The conveyor further includes at least one second roller that operatively couples to the first rollers such that the first rollers rotate as the conveyor belt travels along the second roller.
- In one embodiment, a method comprises driving a modular conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel; rotating a plurality of first rollers disposed into the modular conveyor belt in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced; and conveying objects on the modular conveyor belt using the rotating first rollers.
- The disclosed apparatus and methods can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a section of a conveyor that includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of first rollers that are operatively coupled to a second roller. -
FIG. 2 is a detail view of a section of the conveyor ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a method for conveying objects. -
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a first roller. -
FIG. 6B is a side view of the roller ofFIG. 6A . - Disclosed are conveyors and methods for conveying objects that reduce slippage of conveyor rollers. Due to that reduced slippage, the conveyors more effectively divert objects on the conveyor belt. In some embodiments, the conveyor includes first rollers disposed in the conveyor belt and at least one second roller located underneath the conveyor belt that can rotate in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt travels along the second roller, the second roller operatively couples with the first rollers causing the first rollers and the second roller to rotate. Because of the rotation of the second roller, the first rollers rotate with reduced slippage.
- Referring now in more detail to the figures in which like referenced numerals identifying corresponding parts,
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a section of aconveyor 100 in which a plurality offirst rollers 104 are disposed in a conveyor belt 102. As indicated in this figure, the conveyor belt 102 is modular and includes at least one mat-top chain 110. The mat-top chain 110 has a plurality ofcavities 114, in which thefirst rollers 104 are disposed. By way of example, the first rollers comprise plastic wheels that include outer rubber layers or tires (see discussion ofFIGS. 6A and 6B ). That configuration increases friction between thefirst rollers 104 and surfaces that the rollers contact (i.e., the surfaces of thesecond rollers 106 described below) so as the reduce slippage of the first rollers. Thefirst rollers 104 are aligned at an angle α (shown inFIG. 3 ) relative to the direction of the travel of the conveyor belt 102 so as to laterally divert objects conveyed by the conveyor belt. By way of example, α may range from approximately 20 to 70 degrees. Because thefirst rollers 104 are used to divert objects, the first rollers may be designated as diverting rollers. The mat-top chain 110 ofFIG. 1 includeshinge elements 112 that can be used to link other mat-top chains 110 to form a continuous conveyor belt 102. - With further reference to
FIG. 1 , theconveyor 100 further includes a plurality ofsecond rollers 106 and support members 108. Thesecond rollers 106 are located underneath the conveyor belt 102 between the support members 108 and are free to rotate in a direction that is transverse, e.g., substantially perpendicular, to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt indicated by arrow A. By way of example, thesecond rollers 106 comprise elongated metal rollers that include eurethane outer sleeves. Because thesecond rollers 106 rotate in a direction that is transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt 102, thesecond rollers 106 may be designated as transverse rollers. As the conveyor belt 102 travels in direction A along thesecond rollers 106, the second rollers can be positioned to engage thefirst rollers 104. Such engagement causes thefirst rollers 104 and thesecond rollers 106 to rotate. That rotation is facilitated by the high coefficient of friction that exists between the rubber layers of thefirst rollers 104 and the eurethane sleeves of thesecond rollers 106. As thefirst rollers 104 rotate along thesecond rollers 106, the first rollers pass over from first ends 118 to second ends 120 of the second rollers to trace a helical path 308 (shown inFIG. 3 ) on the second rollers. Because thesecond rollers 106 rotate when they engage thefirst rollers 104 as opposed to being fixed as prior art wear strips, the first rollers rotate with reduced slippage. In fact, after an initial start up period, thefirst rollers 104 rotate along thesecond rollers 106 with nearly no slipping. This, in turn, enables more effective diverting of the objects carried by the conveyor belt 102. For example, objects can be diverted more quickly, in a shorter amount of space (i.e., length of conveyor), or both. - In some embodiments, the
second rollers 106 are vertically displaceable so as to be capable of being moved toward or away from the mat-top chain 110 to engage or disengage thefirst rollers 104. The vertical movement of thesecond rollers 106 can be facilitated by various components such as an air actuator, hydraulic actuator, ball screw actuator, or solenoid actuator. Alternatively, however, in cases in which thefirst rollers 104 are always to be driven, thesecond rollers 106 are not displaceable such that they continuously engage the first rollers as the conveyor belt 102 travels in direction A. In yet a further alternative, thesecond rollers 106 are horizontally displaceable so as to be brought into an out of contact withfirst rollers 104. Such an arrangement may be particularly advantageous in situations in which the conveyor belt is provided with transverse rows of first rollers 102 that alternatingly face different directions (e.g., a leftward direction, rightward direction, the leftward direction, and so forth across the row)). Horizontal displacement of thesecond rollers 106 in such a case may enable switching between diversion of objects in two separate (e.g., opposite) directions (e.g., from a leftward direction to a rightward direction and vice versa). -
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a section of the conveyor ofFIG. 1 . As shown inFIG. 2 , the mat-top chain 110 includeshinge elements 112 that have multipleinterleaved hinge elements 206, each of which has ahole 208 that is axially aligned with thehole 208 of anadjacent element 206. In order to link two mat-top chains 110, the axially-alignedholes 208 of thechains 110 are aligned and a rod (not shown) is placed through the axially-alignedholes 208. A plurality of mat-top chains 110 may therefore be linked together to form a continuous conveyor belt 102. - As described above, the mat-
top chain 110 further includescavities 114 in which thefirst rollers 104 are disposed and in which the first rollers can rotate. As the conveyor belt 102 travels in direction A, thesecond rollers 106 can be made to engage thefirst rollers 104 causing the first rollers to rotate in direction B. The objects on the conveyor belt 102 can therefore be conveyed in a direction C. Notably, the second rollers rotate in direction D. -
FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor ofFIG. 1 . InFIG. 3 , thefirst rollers 104 are arranged along theaxes 302. The mat-top chain 110 includesfirst roller axles 306 that are aligned on therotational axes 304. Thefirst roller axles 306 are coupled with the mat-top chain 110 and disposed within thecavities 114. Thefirst roller axles 306 extend through openings of thefirst rollers 104 to enable thefirst rollers 104 to rotate about theiraxes 302 when engaged with thesecond rollers 106. The alignment of thefirst rollers 104 enables thefirst rollers 104 from below to convey objects on the conveyor belt 102 at an angle α relative to the direction of travel A. - As is further depicted in
FIG. 3 , thesecond rollers 106 are located underneath the conveyor belt 102 such that thesecond rollers 106 can engage thefirst rollers 104 from below as the belt travels in direction A along thesecond rollers 106. -
FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a section of the conveyor ofFIG. 1 . The mat-top chain 110 has aheight dimension 402 that is smaller than theheight dimension 404 of thefirst rollers 104. As the belt 102 travels in direction A and thefirst rollers 104 engage thesecond rollers 106, the first rollers rotate in direction B and thesecond rollers 106 rotate in an opposing direction D (counterclockwise in the orientation shown inFIG. 4 ). -
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of amethod 500 for conveying objects on a conveyor belt. Beginning withblock 502 ofFIG. 5 , themethod 500 includes driving a conveyor belt in first direction. - In
block 504, first rollers within the conveyor belt are rotated in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced. For example, as the conveyor belt travels in direction A, the first rollers engage second rollers that are likewise free to rotate. - In
block 506, the objects on the conveyor belt 102 are diverted in a second direction using the first rollers. The objects can be displaced towards either the sides or the middle of the conveyor belt. -
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example embodiment for the first rollers described above. As indicated in these figures, aroller 600 comprises aninner wheel 602 surrounded by anouter tire 604. By way of example, the inner wheel is constructed of a lightweight, rigid material, such as a plastic or metal, and theouter tire 604 is made of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction, such as a rubber. The outer-tire 604 is provided around anouter surface 608 of the inner wheel 602 (FIG. 6B ). Theinner wheel 602 also comprises anopening 606 through which a roller axle may pass to rotatably mount theroller 600 in a conveyor belt (e.g., belt 102). Due to theouter tire 606, improved gripping of a surface, such as that of the second rollers, can be achieved thereby reducing slippage. - It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely possible examples. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure.
Claims (33)
Priority Applications (3)
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US10/719,805 US6968941B2 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2003-11-21 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
US11/260,803 US20060090986A1 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2005-10-27 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
US11/753,215 US7537106B2 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2007-05-24 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US10/719,805 US6968941B2 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2003-11-21 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
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US11/260,803 Continuation US20060090986A1 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2005-10-27 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
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US20050109582A1 true US20050109582A1 (en) | 2005-05-26 |
US6968941B2 US6968941B2 (en) | 2005-11-29 |
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US11/260,803 Abandoned US20060090986A1 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2005-10-27 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
US11/753,215 Expired - Lifetime US7537106B2 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2007-05-24 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
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US11/753,215 Expired - Lifetime US7537106B2 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2007-05-24 | Apparatus and methods for conveying objects |
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US7537106B2 (en) | 2009-05-26 |
US6968941B2 (en) | 2005-11-29 |
US20080023301A1 (en) | 2008-01-31 |
US20060090986A1 (en) | 2006-05-04 |
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